Improved trace-trimmer



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WM. L. HUTOHINS-ON, OF BURLINGTON, IOWA.

IMPIROVED TRACE-TRIMM'ER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,110, dated August 1, 1865.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. HUTeuIN- SON, of Burlingtominthe county of Des Moines and State ot' Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Device for Trimming Traces and other Straps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled inthe art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

The drawing is a perspective view of my improvement.

The objectof this improvement is to facilitate the trimming or dressing of leather traces and other straps used for harness and other purposes.

This invention consists in the combination of two sprin gs-namel y, a lateral and a vertical self-adjusting spring-with an adjustable cutter or knife, the construction being such that on simply drawing the trace or strap between the springs it will be very smooth and rapidly trimmed upon its edges.

Upon a suitable bedplate or at board, Gr, I mountat one side thereof a block, B, having an inclined aperture through the same, shown by dotted lines. Against one side of this aperture, in an inclined position, I place a turning cutter or knife, A, which is secured to and adjusted upon the block B by means of a set-d, screw, I. The arrangement of the cutter is much the same as that of a planeiron in a common carpenter's plane. One cover of the block B is removed for the convenient insertion of the cutter, and a supporting pin or post, Gr S, is inserted at such cover to support the same.

The cutting-edge of the knife is to be adjusted to or from the inner face, B', ofthe block B, and the said inner face, B', constitutes the guide or rest against which the edge of the trace or strap that is to be cut is pressed.

When the trace or strap C (shown in red) is drawn in the direction of the arrow, the cutter A cuts or turns the edge thereof, and the shavings pass out through the dotted aperture in the block before described. The trace or strap is held against the face B and upon the board G by means of two springs, C D. The spring C presses laterally against toward the face B', and the spring D presses vertically toward the board G. The spring O consists of a coil-sprin g, one end of which is secured at K to the board G. The nose or front end of spring C presses against the side edge of the trace and presses the trace into contact with the cutter A and face B'. The free extremityof the springOis provided with a vertical handle orpin, L, which projects through and below the spring into a slot or cavity, E, in the board G, and the slot E serves to limit, direct, and govern the movement ofthe spring. P is lower part ofthe pin I, which occupies the slot. The rear end ofthe spring D is attached to a vertical standard, D', upon the board G. The front end or nose of the spring D presses vertically toward the board G, so that when a trace or strap is introd uced between the nose of spring D and the board the trace will be pressed down upon the board and will be prevented from rising out of place while it is being drawn through in the act of turning.

This device can be used upon any work-bench by having two pins, c a, arranged to project below the board G iutotwo corresponding cavities in the bench; or the device may be fast ened in any other suitable Inanner to the bench.

I do not limit myself to any spiral form ot' springs or cutters.

Having thus described my invention, I claim V as n ew and desire to secure by Letters Paten t- A device for trimming traces and other straps, constructed and operated substantially as herein shown and described.

The above specification of my invention signed by Ine this `5th day of May, A. D. 1865.

i WM. L. HUTOHINSON. Witnesses:

C. MARBLE, C. WILKIN. 

